The development of the black trade union movement of South Africa and an assessment of the loss of production arising from industrial action since 1980

Abstract:

The term Black Trade Union Movement is a generic concept for labour organizations that aspire for the economic as well as the political empowerment of especially the black people in South Africa. The origins of the Black Trade Union Movement lie outside the mining sector with the formation of the ICU, a mass movement aspiring for the removal of political injustices. Since then the Black Trade Union Movement, however, gradually utilized the limited means at their disposal and concentrated on economic issues instead. Conditions of poverty led to spontaneous outbursts of labour unrest in 1973. This accelerated the formation of the modern trade union movement. Trade unions representing three traditions carried the torch of the black labour movement from the early 1970's until 1985, namely the democratic shop floor tradition, the national democratic tradition and the black consciousness/Africanist tradition. Although trade unions associated with the democratic shop floor tradition were initially wary to become politically involved competitive pressures and criticism from political organizations like the ANC eventually moved trade unions like CASATU to increase the political involvement after 1984. With the unbanning of the ANC, PAC and SACP in 1990, the future political role of the Black Trade Union Movement and the relationship between the respective trade union federations are uncertain. In spite of the constructive approach of COSATU since 1990, the levels of industrial action still shows an upward trend. Although there is more of a power balance in the tri-partite industrial system of South Africa, the paradox is that the labour movement has to maintain its influence by demonstrating its destructive capacities. Thus, although high unemployment levels erode the power of trade unions, levels of industrial action could still remain relatively high in South Africa in the 1990's.